Sarah and Darah, Muddy Waters Too, Quantum Hiatus, and Monster High
From Maverick, Vault Comics, Time Bomb Comics, and IDW Publishing
It’s new comic book day, and I’m looking forward to reading the new Absolute Wonder Woman and seeing how Predator Vs Spider-Man looks! Let me know what you are reading, and in the meantime, check out news and previews, including:
A new young adult OGN - Sarah and Darah: Best Frenemies Forever
A new graphic novel from Vault Comics.
News on Quantum.
And a team-up between IDW and Mattel.
Sarah and Darah: Best Frenemies Forever
New from Maverick is a young adult original graphic novel - Sarah and Darah: Best Frenemies Forever.
MAVERICK is pleased to announce SARAH and DARAH, from acclaimed writer David Pinckey and illustrator Pia Prado.
Scandals and heartache are coming to the prestigious PLACESIDE HIGH where only the best of the best attend. As senior year is about to start and the graduates embark on their futures, with some attending college and others focusing on burgeoning careers, Darah has returned for senior year and will start a war against her rival, her former best friend, Sarah. Tempers flare and the truth is revealed in this compelling high school drama.
At age 12, Darah, the exiled daughter of Thomas Benson, the butler of The Havenmeyers, returns after five years to seek revenge on Sarah Havenmeyer, the girl who “destroyed” her life. It was Sarah’s misinformation that made her parents exile Darah to Alaska where she had no life whatsoever. Now, Darah has returned, and the school has erupted in a frenzy--isn't Darah The Placeside Pyro? Why has she returned? Sarah won't let anyone get between her and her esteemed social standing. But as it turns out, Darah won't back down from a fight, and she is ready to destroy Sarah by knocking her off her social pedestal...and telling everyone the truth.
"Sarah and Darah was a challenge to put together,” David Pinckney said. “We wanted to tell a story with relatable themes that don’t get touched on often in all-ages media and present them in a unique way that was engaging and accessible. Working closely with the editors to shape how we wanted to deliver these messages and coupled with art and letters that compliment the story beautifully, I think we made something that will truly resonate positively with readers.”
Marla Eizik, the book’s editor at Maverick, said, "I think a lot of readers will see themselves in these characters. I know I was certainly brought back to high school while reading this story! Sarah and Darah have a complicated friendship, but what I like about them both is that while they might get distracted by high school rivalries and class differences, they always return to trusting their own instincts and points-of-view, instead of following the crowd. That's a lesson I'm excited for young readers to take with them after reading this beautiful book."
"Sarah and Darah delivers a high-stakes drama that goes beyond the usual high school rivalries, diving deep into themes of betrayal, redemption, and the transformative power of trust. This title captures those intense core moments and emotions that aren't always highlighted but are a huge part of coming of age, exploring the complexities of forgiveness and the courage it takes to rebuild fractured relationships. We’re thrilled to bring this story to life, knowing it will leave a lasting impression on readers," said Allison Pond, Mad Cave Studios Director of Marketing.
“Working on "Sarah & Darah" was a delightful experience for me,” said illustrator Pia Prado. “I love drama-centered storylines, and what I really liked about this story, in particular, is that the conflict between the characters has many dimensions. It's not only about friends having disagreements but also about family dynamics, socioeconomic issues, and more. I also love the story's comedic timing! It's so fun. I'm grateful I could draw this story with such great characters and a surprising plot line.”
SARAH and DARAH (9781952303630; $14.99) is slated for release in trade paperback on June 24, 2025 and is now available for pre-order from Maverick wherever books are sold, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.
Vault And Redman Announce Muddy Waters Too Graphic Novel
A fun-looking graphic novel from Vault Comics. Check out the details and a preview of Muddy Waters Too.
Vault Comics and Redman have announced the Muddy Waters Too: The Graphic Novel, a hilarious new story inspired by Redman’s smash-hit 2024 studio album with over 50 million streams. Adapted from an original screenplay written by Reginald “Redman” Noble, Muddy Waters Too: The Graphic Novel is created by Reginald “Redman” Noble, and co-written by Reginald “Redman” Noble and Ben Katzner, with art by Geo Gant, colors by Fred C. Stresing, letters by Andworld Design, and design by Tim Daniel.
A limited deluxe edition of the Muddy Waters Too graphic novel is available to pre-order now at https://vaultcomics.com/pages/muddy-waters
In the Muddy Waters Too graphic novel, Doc has invented Mud, soil so special that when the right music is played, it allows plants to grow at hyper-speed. Doc knows Mud can save the world, helping to feed everyone...but, more importantly, it’ll grow a bunch of super potent weed. Too bad his Mud has been stolen. Now it’s up to Doc and his crew to get his invention back, as they cross paths with angry girlfriends, the world’s worst case of gingivitis, and Doc’s one true weakness…perfectly pedicured toes.
“This comic book is dedicated to the Redman fans that love the Muddy Waters Movement,” said Redman. “It was only right that I write a comic book to compliment the album. It’s a great story--great graphics and a piece of me that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. My fans know I’m a good storyteller and I wrote this comic thinking of them. Thank you guys for the years of support. Enjoy!”
“Shouts to the amazing collaborators that helped put this together with me: Vault - Ben - Geo - Fred - Andworld. Also shouts to my team, Ellis Entertainment and the Riveting team.”
“The Muddy Waters Too graphic novel has everything you need--tons of action, great visuals, hilarious jokes and a story that comes from the mind of Redman, who is undoubtedly a generational talent,” added Katzner. “He's been building the world of Muddy Waters for years and that level of immersion shines through in this graphic novel. It's a story of perseverance, belief, friendship and...feet (just read it, you'll see). You're absolutely going to want to check this out. This book was so fun to work on, and I'm excited for people to read it.”
“The legendary Redman takes us on a hilarious, mayhem-filled journey in the Muddy Waters Too graphic novel, as Doc and his crew are determined to find Doc's most prized possession,” said Gant. “The graphic novel is a blast from start to finish, with a perfect blend of humor and action, and an art style reminiscent of classic Saturday morning cartoons. I thoroughly enjoyed working on this and cannot wait for readers to get their hands on it.
Muddy Waters Too: The Graphic Novel is available to preorder nowat https://vaultcomics.com/pages/muddy-waters. Mass market softcover editions will hit bookstore shelves in July, 2025.
Time Bomb’s Quantum Announces Hiatus
Publisher Steve Tanner shares a message about the comic’s future - Hopefully we will see Quantum back on the shelves as soon as possible from Time Bomb Comics.
After producing 11 issues of Quantum, Time Bomb Comics has decided to put the release of their direct to newsagents anthology comic on hiatus for a few months. Issue 12 was expected into shops later this month, but that will no longer be the case. However, all existing subscribers will receive a limited-edition variant of Quantum 12 in April.
Regular readers of Quantum will know that in recent months we’ve had challenges getting the comic into shops when it needed to be, due to circumstances outside our immediate control. For example, the current issue 11 was unfortunately delayed by 3 weeks due to a printer error that necessitated a full reprint.
Consistent direct to newsagent sales have also been challenging, with many readers telling us they just can’t get hold of a copy due to factors such as their local WHS closing, or nearest independent newsagents just not interested in stocking comics and magazines.
Delays and lack of availability are frustrating for readers, but they also have a knock-on effect for us, as most of the revenue generated for the sales of the comic fund the advance costs needed to publish it. Basically, if we don’t receive it when we need it, then it creates a problem.
So, rather than continue to swim against the tide, it seemed the sensible thing would be to get out of the water for a while, which would help put us in a better position to continue publishing Quantum rather than not publish Quantum at all.
It will also give us some time to bring all the varied distribution methods we have for Quantum in line, and build on some newer ones, such as digital and printed editions of Quantum being available through Kickstarter.
We appreciate this news will be disappointing for all those that were looking forward to reading Quantum issue 12 this month, but we hope our readers agree that an extended delay rather than cancellation is indeed great news!
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Mattel and IDW Announce Monster High: World’s Scare
Strangely, not long before receiving this news, my daughter was discussing Monster High and her dolls. And now Mattel and IDW Publishing have announced a new comic!
Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT), a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world, in collaboration with IDW Publishing, today unveiled MONSTER HIGH: WORLD'S SCARE, a five issue comic book limited series, available for pre-order beginning today at local comic shops and online. The miniseries comes out with a double sized first issue in July.
From writer Jacque Aye and artist Caroline Shuda, this monstrous miniseries is the ideal jumping-on point for fans both new and old! With cover art by Betsy Cola, MONSTER HIGH: WORLD'S SCARE follows Frankie Stein and the Boo Crew as they compete in The World’s Scare, where gifted ghouls showcase their eerie ideas and latest breakthroughs that could change monster-kind forever! Their invention, a tribute to Frankie Stein’s late father, Headmaster Frankenstein, is sure to shock the judges.
“Monster High is all about embracing what makes us unique, and our collaborators at IDW Publishing really captured that spirit in this new series,” said Ryan Ferguson, Global Head of Publishing at Mattel. “We’re excited for fans to dive into these fresh adventures and discover even more about these iconic characters while celebrating their individuality in ways that only Monster High can!”
“Just like the 19th century World's Fairs, MONSTER HIGH: WORLD'S SCARE seeks to explore the unknown and answer science's biggest questions for the betterment of monsterkind. It’s an emotional ride that answers questions fans have been clawing to know: Was someone really working with Lothar? What is Draculaura doing with Frankenstein's notebook? Who is CryptCrier?” commented editor Riley Farmer. “We are thrilled to team up with Mattel to bring this vision to life, and with Jacque Aye and Caroline Shuda at the helm, this series is sure to be fangtastic. Perfect for new and old fangs, looking for something to sink their... well, their fangs into!”
For fans looking to enjoy even more comics, Mattel’s Monster High line continues to grow at IDW:
Monster High: Bull’s Eye – For the first time in over a decade, out-of-print comics have come back to unlife. On sale now and featuring each short story from I Only Have Eye for You by Heather Nuhfer and Kellee Riley in a new format for fans to feast their eyes on.
Monster High: New Scaremester Vol. 1 – On Monday, May 6, which collects issues #1-4 plus the 2024 Free Comic Book Day release, lurks into book stores everywhere.
Monster High: Pride 2025 – On Wednesday, May 28, skelebrate LGBTQIA+ fiends with a new comic.
